And here it is...
Posted on 01/19/2011 8:25:26 AM PST by Slicksadick
The next Vandenberg AFB rocket launch is a Delta IV Heavy on the afternoon of January 20. The vehicle is scheduled to lift-off from south Vandenberg at 13:08 PST and carry the National Reconnaissance Office's NROL-49 payload into orbit.
For a complete listing of all recent and past Vandenberg launches, go to Vandenberg AFB Launch History. To access launch photos, videos, and audio reports, visit the Vandenberg Rocket and Missile Launch Multimedia library.
Contrail/Missle alert.
I live near the west coast, and have long sought an iPhone app that will keep me abreast of potential visible rocket launches. There looks to be some possible candidates in the store, but I’m wondering if any FReepers can give an account of ones they’ve used.
Launch alert sends an automatic email out to a group prior to every west coast launch. You can sign up at the link I believe. Here is further info from the alert.....
LAUNCH ALERT
Brian Webb
Ventura County, California
launch-alert-editor@earthlink.net
http://www.spacearchive.info
2011 January 18 (Tuesday) 20:09 PST
DELTA IV HEAVY LAUNCH SCHEDULED
Vandenberg AFB News Release
2011 January 18
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - The first West Coast Delta IV
Heavy Launch Vehicle is scheduled to launch from Space Launch
Complex-6 here Jan. 20 at 1:08 p.m. PST.
This will be the largest rocket ever to launch from the West Coast of
the United States.
“This launch marks a significant milestone in our nation’s space
capability” said Lt. Col. Brady Hauboldt, launch director. “We’ve
really restored a national capability for heavy lift on the Western
Range, something we have not had since the last of the Titan IV-Bs
flew out of Vandenberg. This extends our ability to cost effectively
deliver payloads of all sizes and compliments.”
The launch follows three years of preparations and $100 million in
base infrastructure upgrades at SLC-6. It makes Vandenberg unique in
providing the full spectrum of space lift capability delivering
payloads of all sizes to orbit aboard the Minotaur through Delta II,
Atlas V and now the Delta IV, said Hauboldt.
While this is the first Delta IV HLV from Vandenberg, it will be the
fifth in the program’s history. The first launch occurred in January
2004 from the East Coast.
The rocket will carry a national security payload for the NRO.
LAUNCH VISIBILITY AND VIEWING
The Delta IV Heavy slated to lift-off from Vandenberg AFB on Thursday
is a rocket enormous size and power. For observers in close proximity
to the launch pad at south base, the launch should be impressive.
However, for observers further away, the display will be more subdued
because of the propellants the rocket uses and the time of day.
The Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle consists of three liquid oxygen and
hydrogen fueled Delta IV rockets that are joined together. The vehicle
does not use any solid fuel rocket motors.
Unlike solid fuel rockets or liquid fuel rockets that use solid fuel
strap-on motors for extra thrust, vehicles that rely entirely on
liquid propellants produce very little to no smoke trail. Such
vehicles may create a contrail when they pass through an area of the
atmosphere called the contrail zone, but this only lasts several
seconds.
Burning solid rocket fuel produces a tremendous amount of light.
Burning liquid rocket propellants, on the other hand, also produce
light, but the amount is much less and the flame is semi-transparent
or clear.
The fact that the launch is scheduled for the early afternoon will
further impact launch viewing. The Sun will be high above the horizon
and the launch will occur against a bright sky background. This will
greatly reduce the maximum launch viewing distance.
Taking the above factors into account, persons without prior knowledge
of the launch may accidentally see it with the naked eye as far away
as 25 miles. People who are specifically looking for the launch may be
able to see it without optical assistance as far away as 50 miles.
Observers using binoculars or a telescope could possibly see the
launch as far away as 100 miles provided they look at the right area
of the sky at the right time.
People within 50 miles of the launch site or the Delta IV Heavy’s
flight path should be able to hear the launch. In outlying areas, the
sound will probably arrive a few minutes after liftoff and consist of
a low frequency rumble.
The best place to view the launch will probably be near the south
end of the base. The idea is to get as close to the launch site as
possible while avoiding trespassing on government or private property
and staying clear of any low clouds or fog.
Regarding viewing areas, Vandenberg AFB Public Affairs recommends the
public go to Surf Beach to view the launch. But to hear the countdown
net they need to go to the Corral Road viewing location. Maps are
located on the Vandenberg AFB Public Affairs Facebook page at:
www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing
The launch should be visible to the naked eye provided you are close
enough. For better view, use binoculars (tripod mounted binoculars are
even better). Perhaps the best instrument for viewing the launch is
an astronomical telescope. Astronomical telescopes are especially well
suited for launch viewing and may provide an impressive view of the
Delta IV Heavy in flight.
Regardless of where you go to view the launch, park safely, be aware
of traffic or any other hazards, and obey the instructions of
military and public safety personnel.
Is it still going to fly today?
The new time is 1:10:30 p.m. Pacific.
ping to launch info.
Viewing the Launch Online: A live simulcast of the TV broadcast of the launch begins at 12:43 p.m. PST here on launch day. Click the “Launch Webcast” link to the right.
http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Multimedia_Webcast.shtml
30 minutes ping
From Vandenburg I’m assuming it’s going into a polar orbit.
10 minutes ping
And here it is...
Lol, very good.
4 minutes.
-187 seconds til launch
2 minutes. I’m going up on the roof to watch 30 seconds after lift off.
Lift off. Up to the roof now....
nothing on Fox News
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